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Saturday, August 8, 2015

I happened to be in the town of Sunset, Utah for an event. After that event I had some time so I headed West where I know the area get's more and more rural the closer you got to the Great Salt Lake. With less than two hours before the sun set I found a great little rural scene to paint.

"West Point Hay Shed"

Acrylic on panel, 8" X 10"

Original - $100

I don't think I've ever painted during the hour or so before the sun set before. It was a challenge to paint when the light was changing so fast, and to resist the temptation to chase it. I noticed the closer it got to sunset the warmer the light got, the effect was quite pronounced. This was the one temptation about chasing the light I caved into, I glazed yellow ochre over the whole area around the hay shed to try and capture that warm light effect, I'm not sure I succeeded but I like it. There was a tractor and a truck in the scene as well but the painting is just too small to try to add those things in, maybe I will if I paint a larger version in the studio.

I also had the opportunity to meet a local farmer, her name is Dixie. It turned out I set up next to the irrigation gate and she stopped by a couple times to open or change the gate. In case you read this, thanks for taking an interest Dixie!

Friday, August 7, 2015

Okay, I've had my diversions for a while, I think I'm ready to return to painting with acrylics. I just finished this small painting based on a photo I took of an abandoned 1941 Ford heavy truck sitting on a ranch rotting away, and missing a couple teeth from it's grill.

"Missing Teeth"

Acrylic on 1/8" panel, 8" X 10"

Original - SOLD

Hopefully I can focus now. I really do enjoy painting loosely and impressionistically with acrylics, both in the studio and "en plein air" and I enjoy the finished art so why do I keep letting myself get distracted? The occasional distraction isn't a bad thing, but I've been taking it way too far, I'll try to do better in the future.﻿